The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-06
LIFELESS IN A MINE.
ALL HOPE OF RESCUING THE MEN
ALIVE ABANDONED.

Fifty to Seventv-Five Cinnamon
Among Those Imprisoned Heart
Rending Scenes at the Mouth of the
Pit-Torrents of Water Being Poured
Below to Extinguish the Flames.
NANAIMo, B. c., May 5.--All day yester-
day gangs of men were engaged in strenu-
GUS efforts to subdue the flames in the No.
shaft of the Victoria Coal Company, where
the explosion occurred on Tuesday night.
At l o'clock yesterday 1t was thought that
they had the fire under control. The Mer-
riweather steam fire engine did good work
pumping water from the harbor down the
shaft, hand fire engine having been taken
down the mine to fight the Are from the
level. 1t will be impossible TO make an at
tempt to get at the imprisoned men until
the fire is subdued, for by doing so it would
drive the gas on to the fire and cause a
second disaster.
RESCUE ALMOST HOPELESS.
There is little hope of rescuing the men
alive, but an effort will be made at the
first possible moment to reach the impris
oned miners. Over one-half of the injured
and imprisoned men leave wives and fami-
mated that there are between fifty and
seventy-five Cinnamon in the nline Jules
Michael, one of the injured, stated that he
was sitting in his cabin at supper in the No.
2 shaft when he felt the conclusion. All
scrambled out. He became insensible
Only one of his four companions was saved
The dead bodies of the others came up in
the cage with him.
ALL DAZED.
Several of those rescued hardly appreciate
their miraculous escape, owing to the dazed
feeling which characterized all who came
out from the deadly pit. Michael was only
fifteen yards from the entrance to the shaft
when the explosion occurred. He repre-
sents it as something terrific. All became
darkness. All day yesterday gangs of men
were endeavoring to extinguish the flames
in the No. / shaft, and the fine there is be-
lieved to be under control Fears are enter
tanned of a second explosion of gas, which
might blow the whole place up, and old
miners say that such result is possible. II
so the catastrophe would be the greatest re-
corded in the history Of coal mining
NO HOPE OF RESCUE.
All hope of rescung any one in the mines
has been long ago abandoned 1t is thought
that all men can do is being done to reach
them. 1t was at first thought of cutting
ditch to salt water so as to attempt TO put
out the fire in the No. shaft by turning
stream of water into it, but the scheme was
abandoned. 1t would only flood the mine,
rendering it practically useless for a year,
and would Danish any hope there might be
of saving the lives of the men.
HEARTRENDING SCENES
Imagine the scane The mines extend out
from the shore more than a mile beneath the
waters of the harbor, and as one looks over
f,lan al he NJ ir,a thafb b.a
meath are imprisoned many dead fathers and
sons of eighty families of this little city.
Around the shaft the scenes are narrowing
in the extreme. As each cage comes up
anxious faces look there for glad tidings that
never come, and the hope that there is
prospect for seeing the dear ones who died
aAthe post of duty is soon dispelied.
THE FIRE ABATING.
NANAIMo, B. c., May 5, 9P. M.-!The fire
in the mines has considerably abated A
dense volume of steam arises from the air
shaft and uutil the fire is completely sub
dued it will be impossible to enter the work
ings to ascertain whether the unfortunate
men shut in are living or dead. Fresh re-
lays of working parties are being brought
from Wellington's, and ships In the harbor
have also supplied about sixty men, who
are working nobly.
A Doubly Fatal Encounter.
JACKSON MISS, May 5.--A fatal shoot
ing affray occurred on Capitol street to-
night between Col. Jones s. Hamilton,
lessee of the penitentiary, and r. d. Gam
brell, editor of the Sioord aud Shield of
this city Mr.. Gambrell was killed almost
instantly, having received several shots In
the head Col Hamilton is mortally
wounded, being shot through the body. The
cause of the unfortunate affair was an arti-
Gle in the S,cord and Shield few days ago
severely criticising Col. Hamilton's private
and public character. Col Hamilton and
Mr.. Gambrell were prominent citizens.
A IIya+a, IITorlre r,.iI1